Thomas Foods agrees to improve after locals raise a stink
Pressure from neighbours and the EPA has prompted one of the Murraylands’ biggest businesses to lift its game.
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In a win for people power, one of the Murraylands’ biggest businesses has agreed to reduce the smells produced by its factory, and keep wastewater from spilling into wetlands.
Thomas Foods International has long fielded complaints from neighbours about the smell from its rendering and skin processing plant on Lagoon Road, Murray Bridge.
About half of the 115 respondents to a community survey earlier this year said they were concerned about the smells coming from Thomas Foods.
The odour was most often reminiscent of rotten eggs, spoiled meat or dog food.
After reporting by this publication, and an investigation by the Environment Protection Authority, the company has now agreed to take 10 actions to ensure it remains compliant with its environmental licence.
They include:
- More tightly sealed doors on its cooker and blood buildings
- A new roof on its save-all building
- Installation of new ventilation fans
Contractors have also been working their way through various buildings at the Lagoon Road site, sealing them more thoroughly to make sure no smells can escape; and have been enclosing open wastewater trenches.
An air quality engineer will review all of TFI’s odour control systems once the work is finished.
Much of the work is due to be completed by this Friday.
“TFI Murray Bridge remains committed to our environmental obligations and the defined environmental improvement process,” the company said in the revised environment improvement plan, uploaded to its website.
“(TFI) has developed a range of deliverables – termed compliance actions – for site improvements and upgrades following ongoing consultation with its neighboring community and all relevant stakeholders, including the EPA.”
As well as venting concerns, Thomas Foods noted that survey respondents had acknowledged that the company’s presence benefited employment and the economy in the Murraylands.
The company also noted that Murray Bridge News’ story about the survey had helped it reach a wider audience.
Peri Strathearn
EPA is keeping a close eye on Lagoon Road
An EPA spokeswoman told Murray Bridge News the agency had imposed extra conditions on TFI’s environmental licence in July 2024, soon after this publication raised the issue.
Additional conditions were added following an investigation into wastewater discharge at the site.
TFI agreed to audit its wastewater and stormwater systems – that is, sewage and runoff from rainfall – and to come up with a better plan for managing wastewater.
“The EPA continues to ensure adherence with licence requirements, including through compliance inspection activity and observations in the surrounding environment,” the spokeswoman said.
Without a licence from the EPA, TFI would have to shut down its operations at the site.
TFI is currently licensed to continue its operations on Lagoon Road until June 30, 2028.
The licence may yet be extended in future, depending if or when the company relocates its remaining operations to its new site at Pallamana.
Activities still ongoing on Lagoon Road include the production of skins and hides; various kinds of meal for stock and pet food; and tallow, used in food, cosmetics, explosives and even bio-diesel fuel.
Thomas Foods had used the site as its main base up until a devastating fire on January 3, 2018.
- More information: Visit engage.epa.sa.gov.au/thomas-foods-international or thomasfoods.com/northern-heights-processing-facility-formerly-est-533/.
